Improved towing apparatus for canal-boats



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

STEPHEN F. PALMERLOF NEV YORK, li. Y.

INIPROVED TOWING APPARATUS FOR CANAL-BOATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 9,687, dated April 2G, 1853.

T0 all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN F. PALMER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Towing` Apparatus for Canaldoats; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ot" the construction and operation of the same, reference be ing had tothe annexed drawings, Yforming part ot this specification, in which* Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan ot' shafts, with arrange.- ment for attaching tow-line. Fig. 3 isa view showing the relative position of my improve ment-s when in operation.

Similar letters in the several figures indicate the same parts of the apparatus.

The nature of my invention consists in arranging a drum or wheel with a windingspring upon its axle, placed in rear of the usual position ot the towing-post, the perimeter of the wheel b'eing grooved so as to admit ofthe tow-line being wound upon it with a brake operated by a lever, the object being to facilitate the taking in and letting out ot' the line and of slacking the line in passing boats, and also to assist the team in starting by causing the boat to move moderately forward as the line unwinds by the forward movement of the team.

In the drawings, A is the reel or wheel, the axle B of which is secured in bearings in the frame C and wound with the spring D, one extremity of which is fastened to the frame C, so that the tendency of the spring is always to move the wheel in the direction of arrow l. The perimeter ot' this wheel is grooved, as seen in Fig. l, for holding the line E. This frame and wheel are secured in a vertical position slightly abaft of the usual towing-post, and are protected from the cargo by the curb F. Connected with this partof the apparatus is the brake, consisting ot the rubber G, lever lI, and coiniecting-rods l. The line is attached to the team by the curved arm K, the shank c ot which passes through the two cross-pieees l) and c ot' the shafts L and terminates in a square head d, which, resting in the notch cut in the cross-piece C, keeps the arm tirm in whatever position it may be placed, admitting also of the arm K being reversed in position by simply moving the shank forward until the head d clears the notch.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: The tow-line E, which when not in use is always wound upon the reel A, is attached by an eye to the hookf and the team started at a brisk pace. The resistance of the spring D to the unwinding of the line causes the boat to move forward gradually, its Velocity imperceptibly increasing, until the entire line is unwound, when the boat yields to the movement of the team without the jerk or shock which would take place were the team required to start the boat from a state of rest. Whenever the team stops, the sprin g D causes the wheel to revolve in the direction of arrow l, winding up the slack of line as fast as made. In passing through locks the eye g is cast off from the hookf andthe line is wound on the reel, as before described, preventing the wear of line caused by its being drawn around the lock in the usual manner.

It' the whole line should not be required the pin P, inserted in an)7 one of the holes 71, in the rim of the wheel, will stop the unwinding of the line. This contrivance, or the application of the brake, allows the slack ot' the line to sink when passing boats. This brake is operated by simply depressing the long arm of the lever tl, causing the rods I to draw the rubber G against the perimeter of the wheel.

The tow`line I use is constructed of cord wound with wire, so as to possess the flexibility of the ordinary cord and at the same time to be more durable by reason of its metallic covering. This species of line is not, however, essential to the use of my apparatus.

The ad van tages of my improvement are numerons and im portant. The ordinary method of attaching a team to the tow-line by a hook directly in rear of the saddle-horse caused the line to swerve the horse toward the bank. This is obviated by the use of the curved arm K, which enables the team to travel in a straight line along the tow-path, the boat moving at the proper distance from the bank in a parallel direction. The facilities given by the reel to the starting of the boat and the taking up and letting out of line have already been fully referred to. Besides these enumerated, there are various advantages derived from the use of my apparatus, which to the frame C, as described, in connection with the brake and the tow-line, in the manner and for the purposes herein fully set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name before two subscribing Witnesses.

STEPHEN F. PALMER.

Witnesses:

GEO. PATTEN, AUG. I-IOWLE. 

